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Phantoms Game Notes

April 30, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Toronto Phantoms News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Toronto Phantoms (2-0) at Arizona Rattlers (1-1)
Date: Saturday, May 4th
Kickoff: 10:00 PM EST
Site: America West Arena (16, 923)
Officials: Dave Lambros (Referee), Al Granado (Umpire), Mike McCabe (Head Linesman), Art Lucky (Line Judge), James Cole (Back Judge)
Series Record: 1st all-time meeting
Streaks: Toronto has won 2 straight games (7 dating back to last season); Arizona
Coaches: Toronto - Mark Stoute (10-6, 2nd year) Arizona - Danny White (102-50, 11th year)

THE STAKES: This is the 1st meeting between a pair of teams that each qualified for the playoffs in 2001. Both Toronto and Arizona won their respective first round playoff match-ups before falling in the quarterfinals. Toronto has won 2 straight to start the 2002 regular season schedule, while Arizona has split its 2 contests thus far.

THE SERIES: 1st all-time meeting

THE IFs:

If Toronto defeats Arizona, it would ...
· Give Toronto a 3-0 record overall
· Give Toronto a 2-0 road record in 2002
· Give Toronto its 8th consecutive regular season victory dating back to last year.
· Give Toronto its 1st all-time win outside of the Eastern Time Zone
· Give Mark Stoute his 11th regular season win as a head coach
· Give Chad Salisbury a 12-2 record as a starting QB

HEAD COACHES: Toronto's Mark Stoute is spending his 2nd season as the Head Coach & General Manager of the Toronto Phantoms, after serving as an assistant in the AFL for the previous 6 years. In his first year at the helm, Stoute led the Phantoms to an 8-6 regular season record, an Eastern Division Championship and a playoff victory.

Arizona's Danny White is second only to Tampa Bay's Tim Marcum in all-time wins as an AFL head coach. White has led the Rattlers to a pair of Arena Bowl titles, winning the championship game in 1995 and again in 1997.

2002 IN REVIEW: The Toronto Phantoms Arena Football club has built on the success of a 5 game win streak to close the 2001 regular season schedule, reeling off 2 impressive wins to open the 2002 campaign.

The Phantoms kicked off the new season with a 51-37 win over Tampa Bay (4/20). Chad Salisbury threw for 4 scores to earn MVP honours. Ty Law was named as the Ironman after hauling in two of those scoring strikes and making an interception to kill a 4th quarter Tampa Bay rally. Steve Konopka set a new Phantoms single game high with 3 sacks. On the last of those 3 sacks, Konopka knocked Tampa quarterback John Kaleo out of the game with what was later revealed to be a season-ending knee injury.

On Thursday, April 25th, Toronto staged its home opener in front of 7,107 phans at Air Canada Centre. The Phantoms made good on their President's guarantee, rolling the Detroit Fury 50-30. Team President & CEO Rob Godfrey had guaranteed a win to the phans of Toronto – a guarantee backed by the promise of a free ticket to another Phantoms home game, in the event of a Phantoms loss. Salisbury was brilliant on "Guaranteed Win Night" throwing for 5 touchdowns without an interception. The Toronto QB was named as the MVP for the 2nd consecutive week, while Charlie Davidson earned Ironman honours. Davidson made a pair of touchdown catches and led his team with 4½ total tackles.

2001 IN REVIEW: In the team's inaugural season in Toronto, the Phantoms posted a record of 8-6 capturing the Eastern Division championship. The Phantoms won just 3 times in the club's first 9 games, but rallied to win the final 5 games on the regular season schedule surging to the top of the division.

Toronto emerged a winner in the first playoff game in team history, defeating the New York Dragons 64-57 on July 27, 2001. Toronto thus completed a unique 4-game sweep of the Dragons having won 1 preseason game, 2 regular season games and 1 post-season game with New York.

The Phantoms 2001 campaign came to a disappointing end on August 3 in Nashville. The hometown Kats scored a touchdown with 1 second remaining in regulation time to defeat the Phantoms 45-38.

Charlie Davidson enjoyed a most successful season in 2001, being named as a 2nd Team All-Arena WR / DB. The team captain missed 5 games due to injury during the season. In his absence the Phantoms struggled with a 1-4 record. Toronto was 7-2 in the games in which Davidson appeared.

Anthony Derricks further confirmed his status as one of the league's most dangerous kick return specialists racking up 1606 kick return yards. Derricks finished in the AFL's top 10 in all-purpose yardage, interceptions, passes defended, tackles and fumbles recovered.

Damian Harrell emerged as the unquestioned leader of the Phantoms' receiving corps. Harrell scored a team-high 20 touchdowns and finished among the league leaders in receiving yards and receiving yards per game.

FAMILIAR FACES: Toronto OL/DL Kelvin Ingram signed with the Phantoms as a free agent during this past off-season after spending the previous 3 years in Phoenix with the Rattlers. Ingram recorded 9 ½ tackles, 5 QB hurries, 1 sack, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery for the Rattlers during the 2001 season.

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

"When Chad is going, there is no defence that can play against him." Phantoms Head Coach & General Manager Mark Stoute after watching his quarterback Chad Salisbury light up the Detroit defence for 283 yards and 5 touchdowns. Salisbury was selected as the MVP for the 2nd time in as many weeks.

"We got out to an early start. The offensive line did a great job and gave me time to find people. Once it got rolling it was a snowball effect. I'm still learning but these guys make me look good." Toronto QB Chad Salisbury deflecting much of the praise to his offensive line, which has yet to surrender a sack this season.

"I was confident that our players would deliver -- obviously I had to be if I put up a guarantee like that. Once again, our players made me look good." Rob Godfrey, the Phantoms President & CEO, on guaranteeing a win in the home opener to the Phantoms Phans. Under the terms of "Guaranteed Win Night", the Phantoms would have been forced to give out a free ticket to another Phantoms home date to every phan in attendance, if Toronto were to lose to Detroit.

"They have got a great team over there and Coach [Danny] White will have them prepared to execute properly. That's a trademark of an Arizona team – they execute properly on both sides of the ball." Toronto Phantoms, and former Arizona Rattlers, OL/DL Kelvin Ingram looking ahead to this week's game.

TORONTO PHANTOMS LAST WEEK: (4/25/02 - Toronto, Ontario) – Toronto Phantoms' President and CEO Rob Godfrey guaranteed a win for the Phantoms' home opener against the Detroit Fury and his Phantoms did not disappoint.

Behind the five-touchdown passing performance of quarterback Chad "Big Country" Salisbury, the Phantoms sent the crowd of 7,107 fans home happy as Toronto improved to 2-0 with a rousing 50-30 win over Detroit.

"We got out to an early start. The Offensive line did a great job and gave me time to find people. Once it got rolling it was a snowball effect," Salisbury said, "I'm still learning but these guys make me look good."

Coach Mark Stoute had nothing but praise for his quarterback. "When Chad is going, there is no defence that can play against him."

"Big Country" made the field look small, going 21 for 32 with 283 yards passing earning game MVP honours for the second consecutive week. He connected with Ironman Charlie Davidson for two touchdowns in the first half covering 35 and 31 yards. Davidson finished the game with 6 catches for 90 yards and registered a team-high 4 ½ tackles on defence.

After the Fury made the game 14-12 courtesy of a Rickey Foggie to offensive specialist Robert Gordon 44-yard touchdown pass, Salisbury took to the air and found offensive specialist Damian Harrell with a 40-yard bomb of his own. That play set up a one yard Jermaine Younger touchdown run. Toronto went ahead 21-12.

Just before the half, Salisbury and the offence were on the move again. Salisbury drove the team down to the three-yard line and found tight end Kevin Ingram with a 3-yard pass giving the Phantoms a 29-12 lead at the half.

The second half saw more of the same from the Phantoms. Defensive back Ty Law stepped in front of a Foggie pass and returned it 43 yards for another Phantom score. For Law, it marked his 2nd interception of the season.

But the Fury would not rest. Replacement quarterback Drew Miller drove Detroit down to the eight yard line where he found Chuck Levy in the end zone. The Fury could not convert the touchdown and trailed 36-18 at the end of 3 quarters.

In the fourth, Salisbury continued to sizzle. Salisbury again drove the Phantoms into Fury territory and found full back Phil Glover with a shovel pass that Glover took 13 yards to paydirt. For the rookie FB/LB, it marked his second touchdown in as many games. Toronto took a comfortable 43-18 lead.

Then after a Del Lee interception, Salisbury threw a 21 yard dart into the hands of Harrell for his fifth touchdown pass of the game and 50-18 lead. The Fury added two late touchdowns after the outcome had long since been determined.

With the win, the Phantoms made good on Godfrey's promise. If the Phantoms had lost on "Guaranteed Win Night", every fan in attendance would have had the opportunity to redeem their ticket stub for a free ticket to another Phantoms home date. Godfrey was following in the example set by the Phantoms' sister organization, the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays guaranteed a win in the home opener and came through with a 7-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on April 4th.

Godfrey gave all the credit to his players. "I was confident that our players would deliver -- obviously I had to be if I put up a guarantee like that. Once again our players made me look good."

Stoute saw the guarantee as a win-win situation for the fans. "If we won they got to see a win but if we lost they got a free ticket to the another game. I am glad we held our end of the bargain."

TORONTO PHANTOMS NEXT WEEK: On Thursday, May 9th, the Phantoms will return home to Air Canada Centre to play host to the Indiana Firebirds. The Phantoms will be looking to exact a measure of revenge against the last team to defeat Toronto in regular season play. The Firebirds beat the Phantoms 45-34 in Toronto on June 8, 2001. Since that loss, Toronto has won 7 consecutive regular season games, outscoring the opposition 395-293 over that span. TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

Sacks in the City: Following a correction by the league's office, OL/DL Steve Konopka has now been credited with 3 sacks in the Week One win over Tampa Bay. That gives Konopka the outright league lead in that statistical category and the new single game Phantoms record. Konopka breaks the old record of 2 ½, set by Jeff Cummins in a win over Buffalo on July 6th, 2001.

Galloping Ghosts: The Phantoms set a new team record with 40 rushing yards in the win over Detroit. The previous best was 35, also in the win over Buffalo last season. As a team, Toronto now sits 3rd in the league in rushing offence (31.5 yards per game), trailing only Georgia (38.0) and Indiana (36.0). A pair of Toronto FB/LB hold down spots in the league top ten in rushing yards; Jermaine Younger is tied for 5th place with 25 yards, while rookie Phil Glover sits in 7th with 24 yards.

Chad is Bad!: Perhaps no player in the AFL has gotten off to a better start in 2002 than Toronto QB Chad Salisbury. Salisbury has been selected as the MVP in each of Toronto's first two wins throwing for 9 touchdowns without an interception. Boasting the top pass rating in the AFL, Salsibury is doing an effective job of sharing the wealth -- 7 different players caught passes in the win over Detroit, with 4 different receivers making touchdown catches.

Go West Young Phantoms: According to maps.com, the distance between the airports in Toronto and Phoenix is 2617 kilometers (or 1848 miles). That makes this the longest road trip in Phantoms history. It should be noted that Toronto traveled to San Jose (3130 kilometers, 2210 miles) in 2001, but only for the purposes of a preseason contest. This will be the first regular season game the Phantoms have played outside of the Eastern Time Zone.

Stepping Up: Perhaps the most startling aspect of Toronto's fast start, is that the team has dominated two playoff teams from a year ago without the services of two of its regular starters. WR/LB Kerry Brown (bruised sternum) and OL/DL Connell Spain (inflamed knee) have each missed the first two games due to injury, after making significant contributions in Toronto's run to the 2001 Eastern Division championship. In their absence, WR/LB Ty Law and OL/DL Jason Walters have prospered in starting roles. Law has 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in just 2 games, while Walters has added a touchdown of his own (recovering a fumble in the end zone in Week One). It's not certain, at this point, when Brown and Spain will be cleared to rejoin Toronto's active roster.

2nd to None in 2nd Quarter: The Toronto Phantoms have enjoyed their greatest success as a team in the 2nd quarter of their two games thus far. Toronto has outscored the opposition 42-13 in the second quarter thus far this season.

The Polls are In!: The Toronto Phantoms figured prominently in a pair of recent polls conducted on the league's official website arenafootball.com.

"Which team do you think will win the Eastern Division this year?"
Toronto Phantoms – 34%
New Jersey Gladiators – 24%
New York Dragons – 22%
Buffalo Destroyers – 20%

"Who is the most unappreciated quarterback in the AFL?"
Chad Salisbury (Toronto) – 23%
Kevin McDougal (Georgia) – 16%
Raymond Philyaw (Indiana) – 16%
Billy Dicken (Chicago) – 15%
Tony Graziani (LA) – 14%
Other – 17%

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Phantoms QB Chad Salisbury vs. the Rattlers "D": The league's top-rated quarterback takes on the league's worst pass defence. The Rattlers' pass defence has been torched by San Jose and Los Angeles in its first two outings, surrendering an average of 314.5 passing yards per game. If that ‘zona D doesn't come to play against Toronto, "Big Country" could be in line for another big game.

Rattlers QB Sherdrick Bonner vs. the Phantoms "D": Bonner is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in AFL history, but will be tested by a Phantoms defence that is surrendering a league-low 33.5 points per game. Toronto has chased the opposing starter from the game in each of the first 2 weeks. In Week One, Tampa's John Kaleo was knocked out of the game (and for the season) with a knee injury after being sacked by Steve Konopka. In Week 2, Detroit's Rickey Foggie was pulled after throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Ty Law. Foggie completed just 11 of his 22 passing attempts against the Toronto defence.

Rattlers' Rush vs. Phantoms O-line: In 2001, the Phantoms offensive line led the league with just 8 sacks allowed. The 2002 unit appears to be matching and surpassing that level of excellence, having refused to surrender a sack as yet. In fact, QB Chad Salisbury has yet to be touched by an opposing defensive lineman. As a result, Salisbury has completed nearly 70 per cent of his passes, throwing 9 TD strikes without a single interception.

Phantoms Kick Coverage vs. The Horn of Plenty: The Phantoms continue to struggle on special teams – struggles that were best exemplified by Steve Papin's back-to-back kick returns for touchdowns during a preseason game with New York. Against Detroit, Toronto gave up 91 return yards on just 5 kickoffs. After 2 games, Arizona's Chris Horn stands among the league leaders in kickoff return average (and 5 other offensive statistical categories). The Phantoms will have to keep the Horn from making noise on special teams, if they are going to trumpet news of a victory at night's end.

Toronto Phantoms vs. Jet Lag: As mentioned, this game marks the longest road trip in Phantoms history. The Phantoms are flying out to Phoenix on Thursday for Saturday's game, eschewing their normal travel schedule which calls for a flight out the day before the game. Head Coach & General Manager Mark Stoute settled on the early departure to give his players a chance to adjust to the time change. Kickoff is set for 10:00 PM EST. Based on a 2 ½ hour time format, this game will be wrapping up past midnight – as far as the Phantoms are concerned.

KEY DATES IN TORONTO PHANTOMS HISTORY:

April 27, 2001 Toronto improves to 2-1 overall with a 28-25 road win over the New Jersey Gladiators. Damian Harrell scores the game-winning touchdown on a 7-yard reception with just under 4 minutes left in regulation time.

May 5, 2001 The Phantoms' home record at the Air Canada Centre falls to 0-2 with a 62-45 loss to the visiting Grand Rapids Rampage. Quarterback Clint Dolezel threw for 6 touchdowns and rushed another in himself in the Rampage win.

May 12, 2001 Toronto suffers its first road loss, getting thumped by the Tampa Bay Storm. Toronto gives up a season-high 70 points in the loss (70-33).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 30, 2002


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